Elevator system

ABSTRACT

In an elevator apparatus, a car ascends and descends based on a running speed pattern generated by a control panel. Destination floor buttons and landing buttons are connected to an over speed monitoring portion without the intervention of the control panel. The over speed monitoring portion has an over speed setting portion for setting first and second over speeds based on car position information obtained from a car position detector and call registration information obtained from the destination floor buttons and the landing buttons. In the over speed setting portion, a running speed pattern different from the running speed pattern generated by the control panel is independently generated without depending on information from the control panel. The first and second over speeds are set based on the running speed pattern generated by the over speed setting portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus which has afunction of setting an over speed and monitoring whether the runningspeed of a car reaches the over speed.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, in a conventional elevator apparatus disclosed in JP2003-10468 A, a speed governor monitors whether the running speed of acar reaches an over speed. The speed governor sets, from car runningspeed pattern information and car call registration information, an overspeed which should be judged as abnormal, and compares the actual carrunning speed and the set over speed.

However, in the conventional elevator apparatus, the speed governorobtains the car running speed pattern information and the car callregistration information from a control panel. Therefore, when a runawaycar is due to an abnormal control panel, information from the controlpanel can also be abnormal, and thus, there is a fear that the speedgovernor cannot detect the over speed or the speed governorunnecessarily actuates a braking device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, andtherefore an object of the present invention is to obtain an elevatorapparatus capable of detecting more accurately that the running speed ofa car reaches an over speed.

To this end, according to one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an elevator apparatus, comprising a car for ascending anddescending in a hoistway; a controller for controlling the ascending anddescending of the car; braking means for braking the car; a car speeddetector for detecting a running speed of the car; a car positiondetector for detecting a position of the car; and an over speedmonitoring portion for receiving information from the car speed detectorand the car position detector, comparing an over speed setcorrespondingly to the position of the car with the running speed of thecar, and actuating the braking means when the running speed of the carreaches the over speed, wherein the over speed monitoring portion setsthe over speed independently of the controller.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an elevator apparatus including: a car for ascending anddescending in a hoistway; braking means for braking the car; a car speeddetector for detecting a running speed of the car; a load weighingdevice for detecting a weight of the car; and an over speed monitoringportion for receiving information from the car speed detector, comparinga set over speed with the running speed of the car, and actuating thebraking means when the running speed of the car reaches the over speed,in which the over speed monitoring portion adjusts the over speedaccording to car weight information obtained from the load weighingdevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a running speed pattern, a first overspeed, and a second over speed obtained when the car shown in FIG. 1runs normally from one terminal landing to the other terminal landing;

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a running speed pattern, a first overspeed, and a second over speed obtained when the car shown in FIG. 4runs normally from a start floor to a destination floor;

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 7 of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 15.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in thefollowing with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, adriving device 2 is disposed in an upper portion of a hoistway 1. Thedriving device 2 has a driving sheave 3 and a braking device 4 asbraking means for braking rotation of the driving sheave 3. A main rope5 is stretched around the driving sheave 3.

A car 6 and a counterweight 7 are connected to the main rope 5 andthereby are hung in the hoistway 1. By rotating the driving sheave 3,the car 6 and the counterweight 7 ascend and descend in the hoistway 1.The car 6 has a safety device 8 mounted thereon as braking means fordirectly braking the car 6. The driving device 2 is controlled by acontrol panel 9 serving as a controller. The car 6 ascends and descendsaccording to a running speed pattern (an operating speed target value)generated by the control panel 9.

An upper pulley 10 is disposed in the upper portion of the hoistway 1. Alower pulley 11 is disposed in a lower portion of the hoistway 1. Aspeed detection rope 12 is stretched around the upper pulley 10 and thelower pulley 11. Both ends of the speed detection rope 12 are connectedto the car 6, by which the speed detection rope 12 is disposed like aloop. When the car 6 ascends and descends, the upper pulley 10 and thelower pulley 11 rotate at a speed corresponding to the running speed ofthe car 6.

The upper pulley 10 is provided with a car speed detector 13 fordetecting the running speed of the car 6 based on the rotation speed ofthe upper pulley 10 and a car position detector 14 for detecting theposition of the car 6 based on the amount of rotation of the upperpulley 10.

Information from the car speed detector 13 and from the car positiondetector is inputted to an over speed monitoring portion 15. The overspeed monitoring portion 15 sets first and second over speeds (overspeed detection levels) which should be judged as abnormal. The firstand second over speeds vary depending on the position of the car 6.

Also, the over speed monitoring portion 15 monitors the running speed ofthe car 6. When the running speed of the car 6 reaches the first overspeed corresponding to the position of the car 6, the over speedmonitoring portion 15 outputs an actuation command signal to the brakingdevice 4, and indirectly brakes the car 6 using the braking device 4.Further, when the running speed of the car 6 reaches the second overspeed corresponding to the position of the car 6, the over speedmonitoring portion 15 outputs an actuation command signal to the safetydevice 8, and directly brakes the car 6.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 1. In thefigure, the over speed monitoring portion 15 has an over speed settingportion 16, a comparing/judging portion 17, a brake actuation commandportion 18, and a safety device actuation command portion 19. The firstand second over speeds are set by the over speed setting portion 16.

The comparing/judging portion 17 compares the first and second overspeeds set by the over speed setting portion 16 with the running speedof the car 6 detected by the car speed detector 13 and judges whetherthere is an abnormality or not. The brake actuation command portion 18outputs an actuation command signal to the braking device 4 based on acommand from the comparing/judging portion 17. The safety deviceactuation command portion 19 outputs an actuation command signal to thesafety device 8 based on a command from the comparing/judging portion17.

Next, a method of setting the first and second over speeds in the overspeed setting portion 16 of Embodiment 1 is described. FIG. 3 is a graphillustrating the running speed pattern, the first over speed, and thesecond over speed obtained when the car 6 shown in FIG. 1 runs normallyfrom one terminal landing to the other terminal landing.

In the figure, a solid line denotes the maximum values of the runningspeed pattern. An alternate-long-and-short-dashed line denotes the firstover speed. Further, a chain-double-dashed line denotes the second overspeed.

In the running speed pattern, an acceleration curve and a decelerationcurve proximate to the terminal landings are determined using maximumvalues of acceleration (or deceleration) assumed proximately to theterminal landings. Further, the speed in a constant speed running regionis the maximum value of speed assumed in the region. Therefore, whenthere is no abnormality, the running speed of the car 6 does not exceedthe running speed pattern.

The first over speed is set as a pattern higher than the running speedpattern with a certain extent of margin between itself and the runningspeed pattern. The second over speed is set as a pattern higher than thefirst over speed with a certain extent of margin between itself and thefirst over speed. Therefore, the first and the second over speeds do notremain constant, and the first and the second over speeds proximate tothe terminal landings are set to be lower than those of the otherportion.

The over speed monitoring portion 15 is provided with storage means (amemory) and processing means (a CPU). The storage means stores therunning speed pattern and the first and second over speed patterns asdescribed in the above. The processing means determines the first andsecond over speeds corresponding to the car position information andcompares the car speed information with the first and second overspeeds.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the over speed monitoring portion15 stores the first and the second over speed patterns set according tothe position of the car 6, it is possible to judge whether there is anabnormality or not according to the position of the car 6 withoutdepending on information from the control panel 9. Accordingly, evenwhen the control panel 9 is out of order, it can be detected moreaccurately that the running speed of the car 6 reaches the first andsecond over speeds.

Further, since the first and second over speeds are set to be higherthan the running speed pattern with a predetermined margin betweenthemselves and the running speed pattern obtained when the car 6 runsnormally from one terminal landing to the other terminal landing, thefirst and second over speeds proximate to the terminal landings are setto be lower than those of the other portion, and thus, an abnormality ofthe running speed can be detected at an earlier stage.

Embodiment 2

Next, FIG. 4 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 4. In the figures,destination floor buttons 21 for registering a destination floor areprovided to a car 6. Landings on respective floors are provided withlanding buttons 22. By operating the destination floor buttons 21 or thelanding buttons 22, a call is registered in a control panel 9, and thecontrol panel 9 generates a running speed pattern of the car 6. The car6 ascends and descends according to the running speed pattern generatedby the control panel 9.

The destination floor buttons 21 and the landing buttons 22 areconnected to the over speed monitoring portion 15 without theintervention of the control panel 9. More specifically, a callregistration signal from the destination floor buttons 21 and thelanding buttons 22 is transmitted to the over speed monitoring portion15 by a different route from that used for transmission to the controlpanel 9. The rest of the configuration is other structural componentsare similar to those of Embodiment 1.

Next, a method of setting first and second over speeds in the over speedsetting portion 16 of Embodiment 2 is described. FIG. 6 is a graphillustrating the running speed pattern, the first over speed, and thesecond over speed obtained when the car 6 shown in FIG. 4 runs normallyfrom a start floor to a destination floor.

In the figure, a solid line denotes the maximum values of the runningspeed pattern. An alternate-long-and-short-dashed line denotes the firstover speed. Further, a chain-double-dashed line denotes the second overspeed.

In the over speed setting portion 16, the running speed pattern from thestart floor to the destination floor is generated based on callregistration information obtained from the destination floor buttons 21and the landing buttons 22. More specifically, in the over speed settingportion 16, a running speed pattern different from the running speedpattern generated by the control panel 9 is independently generatedwithout depending on information from the control panel 9.

The running speed pattern generated by the over speed setting portion 16is determined using maximum values of speed assumed with regard to eachof an acceleration region, a deceleration region, and a constant speedrunning region. Therefore, when there is no abnormality, the runningspeed of the car 6 does not exceed the running speed pattern generatedby the over speed setting portion 16.

The first over speed is set as a pattern higher than the running speedpattern generated by the over speed setting portion 16, with a certainextent of margin between itself and the running speed pattern. Thesecond over speed is set as a pattern higher than the first over speedwith a certain extent of margin between itself and the first over speed.Therefore, the first and the second over speeds do not remain constant,and the first and the second over speeds proximate to the start floorand the destination floor are set to be lower than those of the otherportion.

The running speed pattern is generated every time the car 6 runs.Therefore, the first and the second over speeds are also newly generatedevery time the car 6 runs according to the change in the running speedpattern. When, for example, the destination floor is changed while thecar 6 is running, the running speed pattern is adjusted, and the firstand second over speeds are also adjusted according to the adjustment.

The over speed monitoring portion 15 is provided with the storage means(memory) and the processing means (CPU). The storage means stores therunning speed pattern and the first and second over speed patterns asdescribed in the above. The processing means generates the running speedpattern and sets the first and second over speeds. Further, theprocessing means determines the first and second over speedscorresponding to the car position information and compares the car speedinformation with the first and second over speeds.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the over speed setting portion 16generates the running speed pattern independently of the control panel 9and sets the first and second over speeds based on the running speedpattern, even when the control panel 9 is out of order, it can bedetected more accurately that the running speed of the car 6 reaches thefirst and second over speeds.

In addition, since the running speed pattern is generated as runningspeeds obtained when the car 6 runs normally from a start floor to adestination floor and the first and second over speeds are set to behigher than the running speed pattern with a predetermined marginbetween themselves and the running speed pattern, the first and secondover speeds proximate to the start floor and the destination floor areset to be lower than those of the other portion, and thus, anabnormality of the running speed can be detected at an earlier stage.

Further, since the over speed setting portion 16 generates the runningspeed pattern based on the call registration information from thedestination floor buttons 21 and the landing buttons 22, a more accuraterunning speed pattern can be generated.

Still further, when the destination floor is changed while the car 6 isrunning, the over speed setting portion 16 adjusts the running speedpattern and the first and second over speeds according to the change ofthe destination floor. Thus, it can be detected more accurately that therunning speed of the car 6 reaches the first and second over speeds.

It should be noted that, in an elevator apparatus where a plurality ofcars run in a common hoistway, that is, a system where multiple carsserve on one shaft, the over speed setting portion needs to generate therunning speed patterns of the respective cars based on the callregistration information of the cars and to set the first and secondover speeds.

Although the running speed pattern and the first and second over speedpatterns are stored in the storage means in Embodiments 1 and 2, onlythe running speed pattern may be stored in the storage means, and thefirst and second over speeds may be determined from the running speedpattern according to the car position information as occasion requires.

Embodiment 3

Next, FIG. 7 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 7. In the figures, aload weighing device 23 for detecting the weight of a car 6 is providedto a connecting portion of a main rope 5 and the car 6. Car weightinformation from the load weighing device 23 is transmitted to a controlpanel 9 and overload of the car 6 is detected.

A running speed pattern generated by the control panel 9 is adjustedbased on the car weight information from the load weighing device 23.For example, if the car weight is high, the running speeds in anacceleration region, in a deceleration region, and in a constant speedrunning region are set to be low. If the car weight is low, the runningspeeds in the acceleration region, in the deceleration region, and inthe constant speed running region are set to be high.

The load weighing device 23 is also connected to the over speedmonitoring portion 15 without the intervention of the control panel 9.More specifically, a car weight detection signal from the load weighingdevice 23 is transmitted to the over speed monitoring portion 15 by adifferent route from that used for transmission to the control panel 9.The other structural components are similar to those of Embodiment 1.

Next, a method of setting first and second over speeds in an over speedsetting portion 16 of Embodiment 3 is described. In the over speedsetting portion 16 of Embodiment 3, basically similarly to the case ofEmbodiment 1, the first and second over speeds are set based on arunning speed pattern obtained when the car 6 runs normally from oneterminal landing to the other terminal landing. However, in Embodiment3, the running speed pattern is adjusted according to the car weightinformation, and the first and second over speeds are also adjustedaccording to the adjustment to the running speed pattern.

The running speed pattern is adjusted according to the car weightinformation with regard to each of the acceleration region, thedeceleration region, and the constant speed running region. For example,if the car weight is high, the running speeds in the accelerationregion, in the deceleration region, and in the constant speed runningregion are set to be low, and if the car weight is low, the runningspeeds in the acceleration region, in the deceleration region, and inthe constant speed running region are set to be high.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the first and second over speedsare adjusted according to the car, weight information, when the runningspeed pattern generated by the control panel 9 is changed according tothe car weight information, the running speed pattern generated by theover speed setting portion 16 can also be adjusted in a similar way, andmore appropriate first and second over speeds can be set.

Embodiment 4

Next, FIG. 9 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 9. Embodiment 4 adjuststhe running speed pattern described in Embodiment 2 according to the carweight information described in Embodiment 3. More specifically, inEmbodiment 4, the running speed pattern from a start floor to adestination floor illustrated in FIG. 6 is adjusted according to the carweight information.

Even with such an elevator apparatus, it can be detected more accuratelythat the running speed of a car 6 reaches first and second over speeds,and more appropriate first and second over speeds can be set.

It should be noted that, although the running speed pattern is changedaccording to the car weight information in Embodiments 3 and 4, thefirst and second over speeds may be directly changed according to thecar weight information.

Further, although the load weighing device 23 described in Embodiments 3and 4 is of a type which is provided to the connecting portion of themain rope 5 and the car 6, the load weighing device may be of anothertype, for example, of a type which is provided at a car platform.

Embodiment 5

Next, FIG. 11 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 5 of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 11. In the figures,information of a running speed pattern generated by a control panel 9 istransmitted to the over speed monitoring portion 15. The over speedmonitoring portion 15 has a pattern comparing portion 24 for comparing arunning speed pattern generated by the over speed setting portion 16with the running speed pattern generated by the control panel 9.

When the difference between the two running speed patterns is equal toor more than a preset value, the pattern comparing portion 24 outputs acommand signal to at least one of the brake actuation command portion 18and the safety device actuation command portion 19, and actuates atleast one of the braking device 4 and the safety device 8. The otherstructural components are similar to those of Embodiment 2.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the pattern comparing portion 24for comparing the running speed pattern generated by the over speedsetting portion 16 with the running speed pattern generated by thecontrol panel 9 is used, it can be monitored whether there is anabnormality of the over speed monitoring portion 15 and of the controlpanel 9, and the reliability can be improved.

Embodiment 6

Next, FIG. 13 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 13. In the figures,information of a running speed pattern generated by a control panel 9 istransmitted to the over speed monitoring portion 15. The over speedmonitoring portion 15 has a pattern comparing portion 24 for comparing arunning speed pattern used by the over speed monitoring portion 15 withthe running speed pattern generated by the control panel 9.

When the difference between the two running speed patterns is equal toor more than a preset value, the pattern comparing portion 24 outputs acommand signal to at least one of the brake actuation command portion 18and the safety device actuation command portion 19, and actuates atleast one of the braking device 4 and the safety device 8. The otherstructural components are similar to those of Embodiment 3.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the pattern comparing portion 24for comparing the running speed pattern used by the over speedmonitoring portion 15 (running speed pattern adjusted according to carweight information) with the running speed pattern generated by thecontrol panel 9 is used, it can be monitored whether there is anabnormality of the over speed monitoring portion 15 and of the controlpanel 9, and the reliability can be improved.

Embodiment 7

Next, FIG. 15 is a structural diagram illustrating an elevator apparatusaccording to Embodiment 7 of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is ablock diagram illustrating main portions of FIG. 15. In the figures,information of a running speed pattern generated by a control panel 9 istransmitted to an over speed monitoring portion 16. The over speedmonitoring portion 15 has a pattern comparing portion 24 for comparing arunning speed pattern generated by the over speed setting portion 16with the running speed pattern generated by the control panel 9.

When the difference between the two running speed patterns is equal toor more than a preset value, the pattern comparing portion 24 outputs acommand signal to at least one of the brake actuation command portion 18and the safety device actuation command portion 19, and actuates atleast one of the braking device 4 and the safety device 8. The otherstructural components are similar to those of Embodiment 4.

In such an elevator apparatus, since the pattern comparing portion 24for comparing the running speed pattern generated by the over speedsetting portion 16 with the running speed pattern generated by thecontrol panel 9 is used, it can be monitored whether there is anabnormality of the over speed monitoring portion 15 and of the controlpanel 9, and the reliability can be improved.

It should be noted that the two running speed patterns are directlycompared in Embodiments 5 to 7, but may be indirectly compared. Forexample, the first and second over speeds may be determined from therunning speed pattern generated by the control panel 9 and may becompared with first and second over speeds set by the over speedmonitoring portion 15.

Further, the car speed detector and the car position detector are notlimited to particular ones, and an encoder, for example, may be used.Also, the car position and the car speed may be measured by, forexample, the reflection of detecting light.

Further, the braking means is not limited to the braking device 4 andthe safety device 8, and may be, for example, a rope brake for clampingthe main rope 5.

Still further, the mechanical structure of the safety device is notlimited to a particular one, and every type of safety device may beused.

Further, the first and second over speeds are set in Embodiments 1 to 7,the over speed monitoring portion may set only one over speed or may setthree or more over speeds.

Further, the place where the over speed monitoring portion is providedis not limited to a particular place, and the over speed monitoringportion may be provided in the hoistway, in a machine room, or above thecar, for example.

Still further, although the over speeds are set to continuously changeaccording to the running pattern in FIGS. 3 and 6, the over speeds maybe set to change stepwise.

Further, although the cases where the over speed monitoring portionindependent of the controller adjusts the over speeds according to thecar weight information are described in the above, the adjustment of theover speeds may be made by an over speed monitoring portion whichdepends on the controller according to the car weight information.

1. An elevator apparatus, comprising: a car for ascending and descendingin a hoistway; a controller for controlling the ascending and descendingof the car; braking means for braking the car; a car speed detector fordetecting a running speed of the car; a car position detector fordetecting a position of the car; and an over speed monitoring portionfor receiving information from the car speed detector and the carposition detector, comparing an over speed set correspondingly to theposition of the car with the running speed of the car, and actuating thebraking means when the running speed of the car reaches the over speed,wherein the over speed monitoring portion sets the over speedindependently of the controller.
 2. The elevator apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the over speed monitoring portion sets the over speedbased on the running speed pattern of the car generated independently ofthe controller.
 3. The elevator apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe over speed monitoring portion sets the over speed to be higher thana running speed pattern obtained when the car runs normally from oneterminal landing to the other terminal landing.
 4. The elevatorapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the over speed monitoringportion generates a running speed pattern when the car runs normallyfrom a start floor to a destination floor, and sets the over speed so asto be higher than the running speed pattern.
 5. The elevator apparatusas claimed in claim 4, wherein when the destination floor is changedwhile the car is running, the over speed monitoring portion adjusts therunning speed pattern and the over speed according to the change of thedestination floor.
 6. The elevator apparatus as claimed in claim 4,further comprising: destination floor buttons provided to the car; andlanding buttons provided to landings, wherein the over speed monitoringportion generates the running speed pattern based on call registrationinformation obtained from at least one of the destination floor buttonsand the landing buttons.
 7. The elevator apparatus as claimed in claim1, further comprising a load weighing device for detecting a weight ofthe car, wherein the over speed monitoring portion adjusts the overspeed according to car weight information obtained from the loadweighing device.
 8. The elevator apparatus as claimed in claim 2,wherein: the controller generates the running speed pattern of the car;and the over speed monitoring portion compares the running speed patterngenerated by the controller with the running speed pattern used by theover speed monitoring portion, and when a difference between the tworunning speed patterns is equal to or more than a preset value, actuatesthe braking means.
 9. An elevator apparatus, comprising: a car forascending and descending in a hoistway; braking means for braking thecar; a car speed detector for detecting a running speed of the car; aload weighing device for detecting a weight of the car; and an overspeed monitoring portion for receiving information from the car speeddetector, comparing a set over speed with the running speed of the car,and actuating the braking means when the running speed of the carreaches the over speed, wherein the over speed monitoring portionadjusts the over speed according to car weight information obtained fromthe load weighing device.